An Exploratory Installation of Family
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From good roots, grow good flowers.
My grandfather has always said profound things! This quote is one of my favorites of his. Simple and true! My grandparents were avid gardeners, after all.
See for yourself below for articles where my grandparents were featured in the Pocono Post. Their gardening work inspired their neighbors!
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GOAT Sauce: Francesca Cali
My paternal grandmother is actually an American citizen and was born in New York. She lived in the tenements with her family and then moved back to Sicily as a baby when the Great Depression hit. My grandparents met in their hometown, Vilafrati. After coming to America, they started a family. Much of their time in older age was spent in Pennsylvania, where my grandmother would turn the tomatoes my grandfather harvested into delicious sauce.
Garden Shovel: Salvatore Cali Sr.
My Paternal grandfather is represented by a garden shovel because gardening was his passion. He came to America in the 1950s. Trained as a carpenter, he made a living in Brooklyn and eventually purchased some land in Pennsylvania, where he was able to grow all kinds of vegetables. He just recently celebrated his 100th Birthday!
Barber Scissors: Alfredo Lengua
The barber scissors represent my maternal grandfather who we would call Poppy Al. Unfortunately, we lost him in 1998 to a heart attack.Alfredo was known as very personable and when patrons to his barber shop found out that he had passed away, there was immense shock and sadness. People would say that going for a haircut was like therapy for them because not only did he give a nice cut, he listened and conversed.
Below, my grandmother discusses his persistence in trying to spend time with her:
Yarn: Gerarda Lengua
My maternal grandmother, who I call "Nonna" is a master of crocheting - and many other things including the card game UNO. Over the years, she has kept the family warm with her homemade blankets, sweaters, hats, and scarves. She came from Chervinara, Italy when she was 18 years old. Here, in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, she met my granfather, Alfredo, and started a family.
The Sun = The Future
2022 has seen wonderful growth within my family with 3 babies being born. The future is bright.
